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US6281683B1 - Rapid determination of present and potential battery capacity - Google Patents

Rapid determination of present and potential battery capacity Download PDF

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Publication number
US6281683B1
US6281683B1 US09/241,687 US24168799A US6281683B1 US 6281683 B1 US6281683 B1 US 6281683B1 US 24168799 A US24168799 A US 24168799A US 6281683 B1 US6281683 B1 US 6281683B1
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Prior art keywords
battery
charge
voltage
open circuit
circuit voltage
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Expired - Fee Related, expires
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US09/241,687
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English (en)
Inventor
Yury M. Podrazhansky
Yefim Y. Kusharskiy
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Enrev Corp
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Enrev Corp
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Assigned to ADVANCED CHARGER TECHNOLOGY, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE reassignment ADVANCED CHARGER TECHNOLOGY, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KUSHARSKIY, YEFIM Y., PODRAZHANSKY, YURY M.
Priority to US09/241,687 priority Critical patent/US6281683B1/en
Priority to CA002361842A priority patent/CA2361842A1/fr
Priority to PCT/US2000/002489 priority patent/WO2000046611A1/fr
Priority to CN00804640A priority patent/CN1346443A/zh
Priority to EP00913312A priority patent/EP1149299A1/fr
Priority to KR1020017009766A priority patent/KR20020018649A/ko
Priority to AU34781/00A priority patent/AU3478100A/en
Priority to TW089101646A priority patent/TW538572B/zh
Assigned to ENREV CORPORATION reassignment ENREV CORPORATION CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ADVANCED CHARGER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Priority to US09/797,998 priority patent/US6307379B2/en
Publication of US6281683B1 publication Critical patent/US6281683B1/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/42—Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
    • H01M10/44—Methods for charging or discharging
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
    • G01R31/36—Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
    • G01R31/382—Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
    • G01R31/3835—Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC involving only voltage measurements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
    • G01R31/36—Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
    • G01R31/367—Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries

Definitions

  • This invention relates to rechargeable storage batteries and, more particularly, to a rapid determination of the condition or charge parameters of a battery, such as potential maximum charge capacity of a battery and the present charge of the battery.
  • the present invention provides for rapid determination of the charge parameters of a battery, such as the present charge of the battery and the potential or maximum charge capacity of the battery.
  • One or more discharge pulses and rest periods are applied to the battery.
  • the battery voltage is measured to provide voltages during the rest periods, and/or voltages during is the discharge pulses.
  • the voltage differences among two or more of these measured voltages are used, alone or with the open circuit battery voltage, as an input to a curve, or a look-up table, or to an equation or algorithm, to determine the maximum capacity or condition of the battery and the present charge in the battery.
  • This information is then displayed to the user so that the user will know the maximum capacity and the present charge of the battery. The user can then make an informed decision as to whether the battery is adequate for the project that the user has in mind.
  • the charge parameters may also be output to another process, such as a charging process, to control or alter that process.
  • one embodiment involves applying one or more rest periods and discharge pulses to the battery, taking one or more voltage measurements during the rest periods and/or the discharge pulses, determining a difference voltage, and using the difference voltage, alone or with an open circuit voltage, to determine one or more of the charge parameters of the battery. For example, one embodiment is applying a first rest period to the battery, applying a discharge pulse to the battery, applying a second rest period to the battery, measuring a first open circuit voltage of the battery during the first rest period, measuring a second open circuit voltage of the battery during the second rest period, determining a difference voltage by subtracting the second open circuit voltage from the first open circuit voltage, using the difference voltage to determine a charge parameter of the battery, and outputting the charge parameter.
  • Another embodiment is applying a first rest period to the battery, applying a discharge pulse to the battery, applying a second rest period to the battery, measuring a first open circuit voltage of the battery during the first rest period, measuring a second open circuit voltage of the battery during the second rest period, determining a difference voltage by subtracting the second open circuit voltage from the first open circuit voltage, using the first open circuit voltage and the difference voltage to determine a charge parameter of the battery, and outputting the charge parameter.
  • Another embodiment is applying a plurality of rest periods and a plurality of discharge pulses to the battery, measuring a first loaded circuit voltage of the battery at a first point during a selected one of the discharge pulses which is subsequent to the selected one of the rest periods, measuring a second loaded circuit voltage of the battery at a second point during the first selected one of the discharge pulses, determining a difference voltage by subtracting the second loaded circuit voltage from the first loaded circuit voltage, using the difference voltage to determine a charge parameter of the battery, and outputting the charge parameter.
  • Still another embodiment is applying a plurality of rest periods and a plurality of discharge pulses to the battery, measuring an open circuit voltage during a selected one of the rest periods, measuring a first loaded circuit voltage of the battery at a first point during a selected one of the discharge pulses which is subsequent to the selected one of the rest periods, measuring a second loaded circuit voltage of the battery at a second point during the first selected one of the discharge pulses, determining a difference voltage by subtracting the second loaded circuit voltage from the first loaded circuit voltage, using the first open circuit voltage and the difference voltage to determine a charge parameter of the battery, and outputting the charge parameter.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of a circuit to implement the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a waveform which shows the voltage measurements used to determine the condition of the battery.
  • FIG. 3 is a chart illustrating how the voltage measurements are used to determine the condition of the battery.
  • FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the operation of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of a circuit to implement the present invention.
  • the circuit 10 comprises a user control panel 12 , such as a keypad, a controller 13 , a display 14 , a discharge circuit 16 , and a current monitoring circuit 20 .
  • the keypad 12 is connected to the “K” input of the controller 13 and allows the user to input specified parameters such as the battery type (Lithium ion, lead acid, NiCad, NiFe, NiMH, etc.), and other relevant information, such as a nominal battery voltage or number of cells in series.
  • the user control panel 12 may be a keyboard, dial pad, array of switches, or other device for entering information or instructions.
  • the controller 13 may be preprogrammed with the parameters for a plurality of battery types. In this case the user would simply enter a battery type, such as a model number, and the controller 13 would automatically use the parameters appropriate for that battery type.
  • the display 14 is connected to the “S” output of the controller 13 and displays the information, choices, parameters, etc., for the operator. If the circuit is always to be used for only a single type of battery, such as a specified type of battery pack for a laptop computer, then the user control panel 12 may consist only of a “TEST” switch. Similarly, the display may only be an LED/LCD readout, or one or more bar graphs, or other suitable display.
  • the display may indicate any desired data, or may simply indicate the maximum capacity and the present charge, such as “1350 maH maximum capacity” and “675 maH present capacity”. Of course, if the power consumption of the device using the battery is known then the display may indicate the corresponding times, such as “5 hours maximum capacity” and “2.5 hours remaining capacity”. Also, the information may be output to another process, such as a charging process, and the “S” output or another output from the controller 13 may be used to output this information to such other process.
  • the “D” output of the controller 13 is connected to the discharge circuit 16 , which may be configured by the controller 13 to provide a constant discharge current or apply a selected load to the battery.
  • the pulse width of the pulses provided by the discharge circuit 16 is controlled by the controller 13 .
  • the discharge circuit 16 is connected to the positive terminal of the battery 11 via the conductor 21 .
  • the negative terminal of the battery 11 is connected to circuit ground through a resistor 20 , which has a nominal value of 0.01 ohm. Current flowing out of the battery 11 must pass through the resistor 20 . The current through the battery 11 may therefore be determined by measuring the voltage across the resistor 20 .
  • other devices such as Hall effect devices, may be used to determine battery current.
  • the battery voltage is monitored by measuring the voltage between the conductor 21 and circuit ground.
  • the effects of the resistor 20 may be eliminated by measuring the voltage between the conductors 21 and 22 , or by subtracting the voltage on the conductor 22 from the voltage on the conductor 21 .
  • the conductors 21 and 22 are connected to the V and I inputs, respectively, of the controller 13 . It will be appreciated that if the controller 13 is a logic device, such as a microprocessor, then the signals must be converted to a form usable by the controller 13 , such as by an analog-to-digital converter.
  • Battery presence may be determined by activating the discharge circuit 16 and monitoring the output of the current monitor 20 to determine if a discharge current is flowing, or by deactivating the depolarization circuit 16 and monitoring the voltage to determine if a battery is present.
  • the temperature sensor 23 is connected to the “T” input of the controller 13 and may be used, if desired, to measure the temperature of the battery 11 so that the temperature of the battery may be considered in determining the condition and present charge of the battery 11 .
  • the battery temperature is not a significant factor or is not considered, such as when a room temperature operating environment is presumed, and the sensor 23 may be omitted in such applications.
  • the controller 13 comprises a microprocessor, a memory, at least part of which contains operating instructions for the controller 13 , timers, and counters.
  • the timers and counters which may be discrete devices or a part of the microprocessor, may be used for controlling the discharge pulse duration or the rest period duration, counting the number of discharge pulses or rest periods applied, etc.
  • the controller 13 causes discharge pulses to be applied to the battery, measures the battery voltage at predetermined points, and then, based upon those voltage measurements, determines the battery charge parameters, such as the maximum potential charge and the present charge.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a waveform which shows the voltage measurements used to determine the charge parameters of the battery 11 .
  • two or more discharge pulses 210 are applied to the battery 11 under test and battery voltage measurements 225 , 230 are taken in two of the rest periods 220 around the discharge pulses 210 , or during one of the rest periods 220 and at least one of the discharge pulses 210 . Two or more of these voltage measurements are then used to determine the charge parameters of the battery.
  • the maximum charge capacity of a battery is determined by one or more factors, depending upon the type of battery, such as the age of the battery, the present temperature of the battery, prior overheating of the battery, prior freezing of the battery, prior overcharging of the battery, prior over-discharging of the battery, prior and current water and electrolyte levels of the battery, and other electrical, chemical, or mechanical history or abuse of the battery.
  • a difference voltage DELTA-L as defined below, provides information as to the condition of the battery, that is, the potential or maximum capacity of the battery. The difference voltage DELTA-L is compared to DELTA-L difference voltage values previously determined empirically using batteries of known charge capacities.
  • the DELTA-L difference voltages used for evaluating the charge capacity of a battery are determined for each type of battery (Lithium ion, NiCad, NiMH, NiFe, lead-acid, etc.), and for each capacity rating (600 milliamp-hours (maH), 1500 maH, 2500 maH, etc.) of a type of battery.
  • the DELTA-L difference voltage levels used for comparison for evaluating the maximum charge potential of a battery are determined empirically for each type of battery (Lithium ion, NiCad, NiMH, lead-acid, etc.) and for each capacity rating (600 milliamp-hours (maH), 1500 maH, 250,000 maH, etc.) of a type of battery.
  • the DELTA-L voltage might be 20 mv for a new, fully charged battery, and might be 75 mv for an older, weaker battery.
  • FIG. 3 is a chart illustrating how the DELTA-L voltage and the open circuit voltage are used to determine the maximum potential charge and the present charge of the battery. Exemplary discharge curves 301 , 302 , 303 , and 304 for a battery are shown. If the battery has a capacity of 1350 maH (milliamp-hours) then the discharge curve will be curve 304 . If the battery has a capacity of 1000 maH, 675 maH, or 400 maH then the discharge curve will be curve 303 , 302 or 301 , respectively.
  • An open circuit voltage of X volts will indicate a higher present charge level for a battery on one curve than the same open circuit voltage for a battery on another curve. If the open circuit battery voltage is, for example, 3.75 volts then, using only the open circuit voltage of the battery, one cannot determine the present charge of the battery because the open circuit battery voltage of 3.75 volts may represent any one of points 305 , 306 , 307 , or 308 on curves 301 , 302 , 303 , or 304 .
  • the DELTA-L voltage may be, for example, “X” millivolts (mv) for a new, fully charged battery, but may be “Y” mv for an older, weaker battery.
  • mv millivolts
  • Y mv
  • a DELTA-L voltage of “X” mv for a particular type of battery may indicate a battery with maximum capacity of 1350 maH
  • a DELTA-L voltage of “Y” mv may indicate a maximum capacity of 675 maH. Therefore, the DELTA-L voltage of the battery under test is determined, and this DELTA-L voltage is used to determine the appropriate curve for that battery and thereby indicate the maximum potential charge of the battery.
  • the empirical data is used to generate one or more look-up tables showing the relationship between the DELTA-L voltage and the potential maximum battery capacity.
  • the more empirical data that is collected the more accurate the tables will be.
  • the empirical data or the table results may be extrapolated or interpolated to determine the potential charge capacity of the battery.
  • algorithms or equations may be derived based upon the empirical data and these algorithms or equations may be used instead of, or along with, the tables, along with the DELTA-L voltage to determine the potential battery capacity.
  • the open circuit voltage is then used to indicate another charge parameter, such as the present charge (sometimes called the residual charge) of the battery.
  • the reference open circuit voltage values are also determined empirically using batteries of known maximum capacity and known present charge.
  • the reference open circuit voltage values used for evaluating the present charge of a battery are determined for each type of battery (Lithium ion, NiCad, NiMH, NiFe, lead-acid, etc.), and for each capacity rating (600 milliamp-hours (maH), 1500 maH, 250,000 maH, etc.) of a type of battery.
  • the use of the DELTA-L voltage and the open circuit voltage have indicated the charge parameters of that battery, such as which curve 301 - 304 and which point 305 - 308 are correct for that battery.
  • the curve 301 - 304 directly indicates the maximum potential capacity of the battery. For example, curve 301 indicates a maximum potential capacity of 400 maH, and curve 304 indicates a maximum potential capacity of 1350 maH.
  • the open circuit voltage is used to determine the present capacity.
  • the battery has a maximum potential capacity of 1000 maH. If the open circuit voltage is 3.75 volts then the battery is currently at point 307 . Dropping down from point 307 to the capacity axis, one sees that 400 maH have been used out of the 1000 maH maximum capacity. Therefore, the battery has a residual charge of 600 maH (1000 maH maximum capacity less 400 maH already used).
  • the battery has a maximum potential capacity of 675 maH. If the open circuit voltage is 3.75 volts then the battery is currently at point 306 . Dropping down from point 306 to the capacity axis, one sees that approximately 300 maH have been used out of the 675 maH maximum capacity. Therefore, the battery has a residual charge of 375 maH (675 maH maximum capacity less 300 maH already used).
  • One or more relatively-large magnitude discharge pulses 210 A, 210 B are applied to the battery, the battery voltage is measured at predetermined points, and the charge parameters of the battery are determined based upon those voltage measurements.
  • two discharge pulses 210 A, 210 B are used, open circuit voltage measurement 225 A is preferably taken at the end of rest period 220 A, and loaded circuit voltage measurements 230 A and 230 B are preferably taken at the end of the discharge pulses 210 A, 210 B.
  • a difference voltage DELTA-L 1 is then determined by subtracting voltage 230 B from voltage 230 A.
  • a typical DELTA-L 1 for a fully charged, new Lithium-ion battery would be 10 mv, and for a mostly discharged, weaker battery would be 40 mv.
  • the difference voltage is then used to determine one charge parameter, such as the maximum battery capacity, and the open circuit voltage is then used to determine another charge parameter, such as the present charge of the battery.
  • only one discharge pulse 210 A is needed, and open circuit voltage measurement 225 A is preferably taken at the end of rest period 220 A, and open circuit voltage measurement 225 B is preferably taken at the beginning of the rest period 220 B.
  • a difference voltage DELTA-L 2 is then determined by subtracting voltage 225 B from voltage 225 A.
  • open circuit voltage measurement 225 A is preferably taken during rest period 220 A, and another open circuit voltage measurement is taken, preferably at the beginning of a rest period following a discharge pulse 210 , such as voltage 225 C taken following discharge pulse 210 B, or voltage 225 D taken following discharge pulse 210 C.
  • a difference voltage DELTA-L 3 is then determined by subtracting voltage 225 B (or voltage 225 C, or voltage 225 D) from voltage 225 A.
  • the open circuit voltage measurement 225 B could be the first open circuit voltage measurement, and the difference voltage DELTA-L 3 is determined by subtracting voltage 225 C (or voltage 225 D, or voltage 225 N) from voltage 225 B.
  • only one discharge pulse 210 A is used, and open circuit voltage measurement 225 A is preferably taken at the end of rest period 220 A, and loaded circuit voltage measurement 230 A′ is preferably taken at the beginning of the discharge pulse 210 A, and loaded circuit voltage measurement 230 A is preferably taken at the end of the discharge pulse 210 A.
  • a difference voltage DELTA-L 4 is then determined by subtracting voltage 230 A from voltage 230 A′.
  • the open circuit voltage is measured at the end of a rest period just prior to the selected discharge pulse 210 N
  • the voltage under load is measured at the beginning of a discharge pulse 210 to provide voltage 230 N′
  • the loaded circuit voltage is also measured at the end of the selected discharge pulse to provide voltage 230 N.
  • DELTA-LN is determined as the difference in the voltage during a selected discharge pulse 210 .
  • DELTA-L 5 B will therefore be voltage 230 B′ minus voltage 230 B
  • DELTA-L 5 C will be voltage 230 C′ minus voltage 230 C, and so on.
  • an open circuit voltage is measured, and then subsequent voltage measurements are taken during discharge pulses 210 or during rest periods 220 , and the voltage differences in a discharge pulse 210 or in a rest period 220 , or the voltage differences between discharge pulses 210 or between rest periods 220 , are used to generate a DELTA-L measurement.
  • This DELTA-L measurement is then used to determine the maximum potential battery capacity and the appropriate operating curve for the battery, and an open circuit voltage is then used to determine the present charge level of the battery.
  • the DELTA-L to be used may be a simple DELTA-L, that is, a simple open circuit DELTA-L (DELTA-L 2 , DELTA-L 3 )or a simple loaded circuit DELTA-L (DELTA-L 1 , DELTA-L 4 , DELTA-L 5 ).
  • the DELTA-L may also be a complex DELTA-L, that is, a combination of one or more of the simple open circuit DELTA-Ls and/or one or more of the simple loaded circuit DELTA-Ls.
  • the DELTA-L to be used may be DELTA-L 1 minus DELTA-L 2 , or DELTA-L 1 times DELTA-L 3 , or some other sum or product or quotient of two or more simple DELTA-Ls.
  • two or more of the DELTA-L voltages are combined to determine the charge parameter for the battery, such as which curve is the correct operating curve for the battery. Therefore, the curves in FIG. 3 might be based upon the sum of DELTA-L 1 and DELTA-L 2 , or the product of DELTA-L 1 and DELTA-L 2 , or the sum or product of three or more of the DELTA-L measurements.
  • the discharge pulses 210 are illustrated as rectangular pulses but it will be appreciated that this is frequently not the case in actual practice and therefore the present invention should be understood as including but not requiring the use of such rectangular waveforms.
  • the discharging pulses 210 are shown as having the same pulse width for convenience and not as an indication of any limitation.
  • the discharging pulses 210 preferably, but not necessarily, have the same or approximately the same current amplitude 215 .
  • the number of the discharging pulses 210 shown is purely for convenience and not by way of limitation. However, a discharge pulse draws power from the battery so the number of discharge pulses should preferably be limited to that number needed to determine the desired charge parameters of the battery.
  • the rest periods 220 are shown as having the same duration for convenience and not by way of limitation.
  • the difference between the voltages 225 and the voltages 230 is exaggerated for clarity of illustration.
  • the differences between the voltages 225 A- 225 D are not shown, and the differences between the voltages 230 A- 230 C are not shown, as these differences will be very small in comparison to the actual voltages.
  • these small differences are important and are used by the present invention to determine the battery condition and charge.
  • the particular position within a rest period when the voltage measurement is made is somewhat critical and the voltages are preferably measured at the points specified herein.
  • the voltage measurements will differ depending upon when the measurements are made, so the voltage measurements for the battery under test should made at the same points within the same rest period as the empirical voltage measurements.
  • the particular position within a discharge pulse when the voltage measurement is made is somewhat critical and the voltages are preferably measured at the points specified herein.
  • the voltage measurements will differ depending upon when the measurements are made and so the measurements of the battery under test should be made at the same points within the discharge pulses as those points used to generate the empirical voltage measurements.
  • FIG. 2 shows measurements being taken before and during the first discharge pulse, and during and after the second discharge pulse
  • the discharge pulses used for the measurements are not critical. For example, measurements could be taken before the first discharge pulse, during the second discharge pulse, during the fifth discharge pulse, and after the sixth discharge pulse.
  • the voltage measurements will differ depending upon when the measurements are made and so the measurements of the battery under test should be made at the same points with respect to the same rest periods or discharge pulses as those used to generate the empirical voltage measurements.
  • the magnitudes and durations of the discharge pulses are somewhat critical.
  • the durations of the discharge pulses and the wait periods are dependent upon the type of battery being tested.
  • the discharge pulses 210 may have amplitudes of 4 amps and durations of 50 milliseconds, and the wait periods 220 may have durations of 100 milliseconds.
  • the discharge pulses may have amplitudes of 4 amps and durations of 20 milliseconds, and the wait periods may have durations of 100 milliseconds.
  • the voltage measurements will differ depending upon these factors and so the measurements of the battery under test should be made under the same conditions as the empirical voltage measurements.
  • one or more of the measurements DELTA-L 1 , DELTA-L 2 , etc. have been used to determine a charge parameter of the battery, such as the condition of the battery, as in the present maximum capacity level of the battery, and the open circuit voltage has then been used to determine another charge parameter of the battery, such as the remaining charge in the battery. Therefore, the user can insert the battery into the test device and quickly (within a couple of rest periods) determine whether that battery will suffice for the job that is to be done, or how long that battery can be expected to provide power for a particular job.
  • FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the operation of one embodiment of the present invention. This operation is preferably controlled by the controller 13 .
  • step 410 one or more rest periods and one or more discharge pulses are applied to the battery.
  • One or more open circuit and/or loaded circuit battery voltages are then measured at the desired points in the rest periods and/or the discharge pulses. As one example, if a rest period is used followed by one discharge pulse then voltage measurements 225 A, 230 A, and 230 A′ would be taken. Thus, the basic voltage measurements have now been obtained.
  • step 420 the desired DELTA-L difference voltage measurement is determined. As indicated above, this may be a simple DELTA-L or a complex DELTA-L. Thus, the measurements needed to determine the condition or charge parameters of the battery have now been obtained.
  • one parameter of the battery such as the maximum potential charge capacity of the battery, is determined based upon the desired DELTA-L measurement.
  • step 440 another charge parameter of the battery, such as the present charge level of the battery, is determined based upon an open circuit voltage measurement and the desired DELTA-L measurement.
  • the condition of the battery, or the charge parameters of the battery are determined from a look-up table, or an algorithm, or both, based upon the DELTA-L measurement and the open circuit voltage measurement.
  • step 450 the charge parameters of the battery, such as the potential maximum battery capacity and/or the present charge level of the battery, are then output, such as by being displayed to the user or provided to another process, such as a charging process.
  • the user now has compete information about the charge parameters or condition of the battery, that is, the user now knows the charge capacity of the battery and the present charge of the battery. The user can therefore determine whether the battery is adequate for the user's needs, or whether a spare battery should be brought along, or whether the battery should be replaced, or whether the battery should be recharged.
  • the potential maximum battery capacity and/or the present charge level of the battery may also be output to control another process, such as to begin the process of charging the battery, or to alter the process of charging the battery, or to terminate the process of charging the battery.
  • the maximum potential capacity is 1000 maH
  • the present charge level is 250 maH
  • the maximum potential capacity is 1000 maH
  • the present charge level is 990 maH
  • An exemplary charging circuit which uses many of the same components as the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,000.
  • the present invention provides a method and an apparatus for quickly determining the condition or charge parameters of a battery, such as the maximum charge capacity of a battery and the present charge of a battery.
  • the present invention therefore allows users to determine whether a particular battery will be able to support a given project or whether it is time to start, stop, or alter the charging process for the battery.
  • the present invention has been described with particularity with respect to its preferred embodiment and environment, the present invention is not limited to simply determining the present condition and charge of a battery.
  • the present invention is also useful for determining how much charge should be applied to fully recharge a battery, and for testing to determine if a battery is fully charged or should be charged further.

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  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
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  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Secondary Cells (AREA)
  • Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)
  • Tests Of Electric Status Of Batteries (AREA)
US09/241,687 1999-02-02 1999-02-02 Rapid determination of present and potential battery capacity Expired - Fee Related US6281683B1 (en)

Priority Applications (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/241,687 US6281683B1 (en) 1999-02-02 1999-02-02 Rapid determination of present and potential battery capacity
AU34781/00A AU3478100A (en) 1999-02-02 2000-01-31 Rapid determination of present and potential battery capacity
PCT/US2000/002489 WO2000046611A1 (fr) 1999-02-02 2000-01-31 Determination rapide de la capacite actuelle et potentielle d'une batterie
CN00804640A CN1346443A (zh) 1999-02-02 2000-01-31 快速测定当前的和潜在的电池容量
EP00913312A EP1149299A1 (fr) 1999-02-02 2000-01-31 Determination rapide de la capacite actuelle et potentielle d'une batterie
KR1020017009766A KR20020018649A (ko) 1999-02-02 2000-01-31 현재 및 보유 밧데리 용량의 신속 판단법
CA002361842A CA2361842A1 (fr) 1999-02-02 2000-01-31 Determination rapide de la capacite actuelle et potentielle d'une batterie
TW089101646A TW538572B (en) 1999-02-02 2000-01-31 Rapid determination of present and potential battery capacity
US09/797,998 US6307379B2 (en) 1999-02-02 2001-03-02 Rapid determination of present and potential battery capacity

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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US09/241,687 US6281683B1 (en) 1999-02-02 1999-02-02 Rapid determination of present and potential battery capacity

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WO2000046611A1 (fr) 2000-08-10
TW538572B (en) 2003-06-21
CA2361842A1 (fr) 2000-08-10
US20010009371A1 (en) 2001-07-26
KR20020018649A (ko) 2002-03-08
US6307379B2 (en) 2001-10-23
AU3478100A (en) 2000-08-25
CN1346443A (zh) 2002-04-24

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